Britannica
Sources used in this answer
Which regions of the world developed major traditions of ivory carving?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
ivory carving
Kinugumiut Inupiat incised walrus ivory shaman's figure, c. 1890; in the National Museum of the American Indian, George Gustav Heye Center, Smithsonian Institution, New York City.
Major traditions of ivory carving have been developed across several regions and cultures throughout history, utilizing materials such as elephant, walrus, and mammoth tusks.12
- East Asia: Ivory carving is one of China’s oldest arts, with significant developments from the Shang dynasty through the Qing dynasty. Centers in Beijing and Guangzhou produced intricate figures and utilitarian objects. In Japan, the Tokugawa period saw the mastery of miniature carvings known as netsuke.3
- The West: European traditions evolved from prehistoric times through the Roman, Byzantine, Carolingian, Gothic, and Renaissance periods, often focusing on religious subjects before shifting to decorative items.42
- Other Regions:
- India: Ivory has been carved for millennia, though few early pieces survive.12
- Middle East: Ivory was used extensively to decorate furniture and religious objects like minbars.1
- North America: The Inuit fashioned utilitarian objects from walrus and mammoth tusks, while 19th-century American whalers developed the tradition of scrimshaw.1